Page 26 of The Vicious Defender

"Then prove your loyalty. Tell me her name," I order.

"No," Phoenix refuses, his jaw set.

"Then you leave me no choice," I say.

"No!" Heath cries. "Uncle, please!"

"Don't worry, Heath. You'll have a new friend soon," I assure him, clicking the safety off. "What's your sister's name, Phoenix?"

"Fuck you," Phoenix mutters.

"I knew it," I gloat.

"No, wait, Uncle!" Heath cries. "You don't have to do this! Please, I'll do anything!"

"I'm sorry, nephew. But some lessons have to be learned the hard way," I say.

"Please, Uncle," Heath begs, tears streaming down his face.

"I'm sorry, but I can't show you any mercy," I state.

"Mercy!" Heath yells, making me laugh.

"No," I hiss. "No mercy for liars."

"No," Heath manages. "His sister's name is Mercy."

"You have a sister named Mercy, Phoenix?" I ask.

"She doesn't deserve this," he says. "I'm doing this to keep her safe."

"Her life or yours," I respond, my voice hard.

"No, Uncle," Heath protests.

"You have three seconds," I warn, ignoring my nephew's pleas.

"What the fuck do you want?"

I smirk into Phoenix's face. "Everything."

Chapter Seven

Tallulah

Xavier wants me pregnant.I want it, too. But why isn't it happening?

Every time my period comes, it feels like a stab in the heart. And when the doctor confirms what I already know, that it hasn't taken, I want to scream and cry.

I hate feeling like a failure.

"What's wrong?" Xavier asks, and I realize he's watching me from across the room.

"Nothing," I answer, turning away from him.

"Tell me, Tallulah," he demands, his voice soft but insistent.

"I'm just upset, that's all," I say.

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